Aluta continua! Towards a generation of new young leaders that we believe in!

It is unfair to do a blanket comparison of young people of the 1976 generation with those of 2016. The 1976 generation are generally seen as superhumanly inspirational, having achieved the impossible. Unfortunately, this type of comparison usually leaves us feeling disempowered, underperforming and for the lack of a better word, rather useless as young people in 2016. However, I think there are quite a few parallels to be drawn between the youth of 1976 and those of today.

In 1976 the country witnessed school learners, baffled by the use of Afrikaans as medium of instruction in township schools and frustrated with the unpreparedness of teachers to execute this new language policy, taking it upon themselves to reject the new system. In the context of many of their parents and guardians having become complacent as the brutality of the apartheid government normalised over time, they mobilised through various youth movements. Lacking vision, the business sector did nothing to oppose the appalling loss of human potential – but then of course the business sector did not expect much from black learners, being content to exploit them as manual and menial labour when they become adults.

In 1976 young people bypassed all authority structures, including their parents, to revolt on 16 June, keeping it secret because they knew their plans would be disapproved of and possibly prevented. During a visit to Robben Island in 2012 one of the 1976 activists who guided our visit, told us that after the uprising many of them avoided going home because they feared the reproach of their parents and the state which was likely to be severe in both cases. The personal risk paid off though – the 1976 uprising activated enormous international pressure on the apartheid government and as such played an important role setting the stage for the eventual fall of apartheid.

Also focussed on education, the 2015 #FeesMustFall movement grew from the realisation that despite the progress that has been made in ensuring that higher education is accessible to everyone, much more is needed to ensure actual equitable access. University fees represented a glass ceiling for both prospective and current non-white South African students. Initiated by the Wits SRC in response to the 10.5% fee increment announced by the University Council, within a week #WitsWillFall started trending nationally as #FeesMustFall, supported by student movements at various institutions across the country.

And somewhat similarly to 1976, the #FeesMustFall movement experienced hostility from the state and impotent silence from parents (except for the outsourced workers). Government brought in armed police forces using helicopters, private armed security detail and military hippos with more than 163 students arrested at Wits alone[1]. As they did in 1976, the business sector remained silent again, as though nothing was happening that required intentional leadership. The lack of political leadership and void of constructive inputs from universities and research institutions will not soon be forgotten.

So we see that factors like limited support from the various structures that one would expect to provide support and protection for the interests of the young, coupled by growing frustration, and a lack of platforms to exert influence in decision making processes, feature in the backdrop of both youth movements (1976 and 2015). However, while the 1976 generation is lauded as heroes, today’s young people are frequently accused of being an angry, dangerous, lazy, apathetic, despondent and disempowered generation in the media.

However, #FeesMustFall shows that similarly to those of 1976, today’s young people are in fact not apathetic, despondent or disempowered about social justice, their life chances and issues impacting the quality of their lives. The spirit of 1976 lives on in today’s youth – if they feel sufficiently unheard and frustrated they will take the lead and mobilise. The question is how do we support them now to ensure that their efforts, like those of the 1976 generation, contribute to creating a better South Africa? How do we help them to become the next generation to take the lead in the development of a South Africa, a generation that offer us the new leadership that we so desperately need – leadership that we can admire and believe in – like we do those of 1976?

Aluta continua!

Have a look at Activate! to read about a network of more than 2 000 young people mobilising around social innovation in South Africa. Here are a few simple things you can do to help young people now:

Change your perceptions about them – try putting yourself in their shoes for a bit

Support young people to navigate their way through the education system

2 Comments

Thanks for the article. As one reads the possible scenarios2024 drafted by the ISS (see their website), not a single scenario will get that many jobless youth to work and/or reduce the gap between rich and poor. Please let me know how I can assist in avoiding a whole generation loosing out on chances (and the country loosing out on their talents!).

Hi Lucienne, thank you for your comment. We don’t have easy answers either. At DGMT we are investing a lot in early childhood development because it is shown to be the most powerful investment in human capital that a country can make. The Heckman equation (http://heckmanequation.org/) has shown that young children hold the power to substantially change the long-term trajectory of a nation’s health, education and economic growth – if we are willing to make the relatively small investment needed to achieve the high returns that are possible. That said, we absolutely agree that writing off a whole generation of young people is not an option – and counterproductive when you are investing in early childhood development – young people are or will soon be the parents of today’s children. In terms of young people we are trying to support initiatives that tackle some of the structural barriers limiting young people’s opportunities – like easy access to good information on education, careers and employment. Helping the vocational sector to become better linked to industry. Encouraging business and other organisations to help young people get work experience by creating internship and volunteer opportunities. And as Senzo’s article mentions, we are also investing a lot in youth leadership development and activating young people for the public good. Senzo also names the following things that individuals can do to support young people:

– “Change your perceptions about them – try putting yourself in their shoes for a bit
– Support young people to navigate their way through the education system
– Create opportunities where you are for them to gain work experience
– Be a mentor to one of them”

At the moment we are working on another Create Change publication (https://dgmt.co.za/create-change/) – this issue will focus on how we can support young people now with tools and resources that can assist towards this end – so look out for that in September.